General Mills Bringing Back The Artificial Colors In Trix Cereal

It’s only been a year and a half since General Mills removed the artificial flavors and colors from their Trix cereal, and guess what? In October they’re adding the unnatural stuff back.

For real.

Red #40, Yellow #6 and Blue #1

Isn’t this going in the wrong direction? Like, completely?

General Mills Bringing Back The Artificial Colors

The Artificial Flip Flop

Back in 2015, General Mills announced that they would remove the artificial colors and flavors from all their cereals. At the time the president of General Mill’s cereal division, Jim Murphy said,

“We’re simply listening to consumers, and these ingredients are not what people are looking for in their cereal today.”

True that.

Personally, as a consumer and a mom to four kids, I’m looking for whole foods and more natural products. So to me, removing the artificial ingredients was a big plus. At our house, we don’t eat much cereal (lots of eggs, smoothies and oats, plus I rarely eat breakfast because I do the intermittent fasting thing nearly every day), but when I buy it I look for gluten-free options that are free from artificial colors and flavors.

General Mills explained they are bringing the artificial ingredients back due to an outcry from their fans. Apparently some customers complained they didn’t like the duller colors of the newer, naturally colored cereal and they wanted the brightly (though artificial) colored Trix back.

While it’s true that people can choose to eat whatever they want, the way General Mills flip-flopped is so disturbing to me. It seems they’re not concerned with the health of the very people who buy their cereal.

Although plenty of people know about the harmful effects of artificial ingredients in our foods, there are many others who don’t. What about them?

Everyone deserves to know the truth about how ingredients in the foods we eat can impact our health.

It’s baffling why General Mills would go back on this, especially when we review what research shows these artificial ingredients can do to our bodies. What’s worse is kids are particularly vulnerable to the harmful impact of these additives.

Health Risks Of Artificial Food Dyes

Can cause hyperactivity and behavior problems in children who are particularly sensitive (1)

What’s Up With Food Colorings Anyway?

Let’s consider for a second why companies add artificial colorings to begin with. When foods are processed the natural textures, colors and appearances are stripped away….not to mention the essential nutrients.

What’s left is a sickening pile of blah. (Have you watched any food documentaries lately?)

So the manufactures have to add colors, flavorings and nutrients back to the “food” to make it palatable….so people will buy it and eat the stuff.

Final Word

Recent reports suggest cereal sales in the U.S. are down 7 percent from last year. Americans aren’t into cereal like they used to be and the cereal companies seem desperate to drum up a little business.

I think adding artificial ingredients back is a big mistake. It will definitely make me think twice before I buy cereal (or anything else) from General Mills in the future.

Eating a diet rich in brightly colored whole foods is the best way to avoid the harmful effects of food dyes. So enjoy a bowl of brilliant blue blueberries and red strawberries. Or polish off a big green salad topped with red, yellow and green peppers, tomatoes, purple onions, cabbage and oranges. These foods are full of the essential nutrients your body needs for health and vitality.

*I’ve sent General Mills an email expressing my concern and displeasure over this decision and am awaiting their response. I will update this post as soon as I hear back from them.

What do you think about General Mills bringing back the artificial colors in Trix cereal?

I love your honesty, Krystel! Our individuality makes us all unique. Of course, this is my opinion and everyone else is entitled to theirs. Our choices are often influenced by our life experiences and without diversity, life could get pretty boring. 😉

“So the manufactures have to add colors, flavorings and nutrients back to the “food” to make it palatable” This is a very negative circle, consumers then will get use to eat ‘good-looking’ but unhealthy things, this will then push manufactures to do more of this… errrrr…

I’ve never been a big cereal person, mostly because I don’t like milk and I’m not a huge fan of sugary, artificial foods in the morning. It’s sad to see that General Mills is opting to add artificial colors in their cereals. We need more food in our food.